2010 All Saints Durif Rutherglen

SKU #111643395 points
James Halliday

Once again, this is an outstanding example of balanced, fresh, complex and compelling durif; the bouquet is loaded with ample sweet black fruits, layers of spice and a little gamey complexity; the palate is full-bodied and fresh, with an expansive profile and a myriad of possibilities for interesting food and wine pairing; lovely stuff.
(3/2012)

K&L Notes

Petite Sirah has a dedicated following and familiar expression from California, but is labelled here under its more correct varietal name of Durif in this botting from Australia. The grape has a long history in Rutherglen parallel to that of California. Durif was named for the man that originally propegated it in the 1880s as a crossing of Syrah and Peloursin. From the winery: "Dense dark colour with a bouquet of violets, ripe berry flavours and a seriously tannic backbone. This is Durif as it should be."

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Petite Sirah

- Once thought to be related to the Rhône's Syrah, it ends up that Petite Sirah is more closely related to the Southern French varietal Durif, which is virtually extinct in France. On the other hand, Petite Sirah thrives in California, where it is prized for its ink-dark color, rich, peppery, black-fruited tannic wine and ability to age. There is even a group passionately devoted to the varietal called PS I Love You. While often bottled varietally, Petite Sirah is also frequently blended with Zinfandel to give that wine structure, and is usually among the varietals planted in the old vine field blends of Northern California. The grape is also grown with some success is South America - Brazil and Argentina, in particular - and in Mexico.

Country:

Australia

- While it is true that the greatest strides in Australian winemaking have come in the last 30 years or so, commercial viticulture began as early as the 1820s and has developed uninterrupted ever since. The majority of the great wine regions are in the southeastern area of the continent, including Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra in South Australia; Yarra Yarra Valley and Pyrenees in Victoria; and the Upper and Lower Hunter Valleys in New South Wales. Many of the wines from Southeastern Australia are based on Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon and various blends including Grenache and Mourvedre. In Western Australia, along the Margaret River, great strides are being made with Pinot Noir as well as Bordeaux-styled reds. There are also many world-class releases of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from the land Down Under, where Riesling also enjoys international acclaim. While many equate Aussie wines with “value,” there are more than a few extremely rare and pricey options, which never fail to earn the highest ratings from wine publications and critics throughout the world. View a list of bestselling items from Australia.